Taco Bell And The LAPD Go Way Back

After we posted today about the death of Taco Bell founder Glen W. Bell, whose first franchise went to a Los Angeles police officer in 1964, we heard from sources who indicated that there are deep roots between the company and Los Angeles Police Department cops.

In fact, we're told, about five motorcycle officers were some of the first franchisees in the 1960s. That number soon expanded to ten cops who took on these fast-food taco shops. One former cop who is now a reserve officer owns 21 Taco Bells to this day.

Bell died in the northern San Diego community of Rancho Santa Fe Sunday, the Irvine company announced Monday. He was 86. He actually sold the company to Pepsi in 1978. Yum Brands, Inc. owns Taco Bell today and claims the restaurants serve two billion tacos a year.